#EndSARS: DCO killed, DPO critically injured, police stations, LG Secretariat set ablaze in Ogun, Imo, Ondo

Suspected hoodlums, on Wednesday, reportedly stormed the Atan-Ota Divisional Police station in Ogun State, and allegedly killed the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO), DSP Augustine Ogbeche.
This is contained in a statement in Abeokuta by DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ogun Command.
Oyeyemi said that the protesters also assaulted the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Sikiru Olugbenga, whose whereabouts was presently unknown, and made away with arms and ammunition.
According to the command’s spokesman, a civilian was also killed in the attack while the station was set ablaze.
The PPRO said that the hitherto peaceful protest embarked upon by youths across the state was unfortunately taking a dangerous violent dimension.
He said that some people with ulterior motives were using the protest against violation of human rights by personnel of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to commit all sorts of heinous crimes.
Oyeyemi said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Edward Ajogun, had appealed to the youths to eschew violence and embrace peace as violence would do no one good.
He added that the CP equally appealed to traditional rulers, parents and other critical stakeholders to prevail on the youths to stop the carnage and give the government a chance to address the situation.
“Early this morning, the protesters went to Atan-ota and set the police station there ablaze and subsequently murdered the D.C.O, DSP Augustine Ogbeche in cold blood.
“A civilian also died in the process while some arms were carted away. They also inflicted serious injury on the DPO, Sikiru Olugbenga, whose whereabouts is yet unknown.
”Also in Abeokuta, some groups of boys attacked Obada-Oko Divisional Headquarters and vandalised it.
“The youths are reminded that since the commencement of the protests, the police have been nice and civil to them even when some of our men were injured and our stations damaged.
“We even went ahead and released all the 36 suspects we arrested.
“However, if in the course of handling the protests anybody feels offended, we plead understanding and not retaliatory measures including killing and maiming policemen and burning and damaging police stations.
”We will ensure that justice is served any aggrieved person. Please and please let us continue to embrace peace rather than violence,” Oyeyemi said.
Meanwhile, unidentified hoodlums also set Nworubi Police Divisional Headquarters in Mbaitoli LGA on fire in continuation of the ongoing protest against police brutality.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Ikeokwu Orlando, confirmed the incident.
He said: “Yes, I can confirm to you that Nworubi Police Division was set on fire this afternoon by hoodlums.
‘No arrest has been made yet, but police authority have opened investigation into the matter,” he said.
Governor Hope Uzodinma had on Tuesday ordered 24 hours curfew in Imo State to end the ongoing protest in the state.
Protesters ignored the curfew and embarked on protest in various locations of the state.
The state’s Fire Service was mobilised by state government to quench the fire.
Also, the Nworieubi and Orji stations in Mbaitoli and Owerri North Local Government Areas were torched.
Ikeokwu, who condemned the attacks on police stations, also said that the command had swung into action to curtail escalating violence in parts of the state.
He said that efforts were in top gear to protect lives and property of Imo residents.
 “The command has swung into action to bring the situation under control, protect lives of innocent citizens, and prevent further attacks on any other critical infrastructure in the state.
 “We urge everyone to embrace peace and remain calm as efforts are in top gear to contain the situation and secure the lives of Imo residents “, he said.
 He, however, urged residents of the state to comply with the dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed by the state government, adding that it was in their best interest as according to him, it will help to restore sanity.
Also, some suspected hoodlums who hijacked the #EndSARS protest against police brutality in Okitipupa Local Government Area (LGA) of Ondo State, on Thursday, set ablaze the Okitipupa Divisional Police Station and the LGA Secretariat.
Efforts by  the officers of the Nigerian  Army, 19 Battalion, Niquora Barracks in Okitipupa LGA, stopped the hoodlums from setting ablaze the Ondo State Correctional Centre in Okitipupa.
The protesters also released over 200  motorcycles and other valuable properties seized  and kept at the police station to the public.
An eye witness said trouble began after the police attempted to force the angry protesters to obey the  curfew imposed  by the state government on the residents of the state.
“The altercation between the police and the protesters led to the burning of the police station and the Local Government  Council Secretariat.
“The efforts and timely intervention  of the Nigerian  Army  officers, however, stopped the hoodlums  from setting the Correctional Centre in Okitipupa  on fire with a view to releasing the  prisoners there,” the eye witness  said.